ARLINGTON, Texas—A vinyl store on East Division celebrates the Jazz Jam event every Tuesday night at which attendees enjoy the sounds of skilled musicians.

Truth Vinyl, a record store selling new and vintage music discs, opened in 2018 but was forced to close its doors during the COVID-19 outbreak. It reopened in 2025 at 300 E. Division St. Musicians and attendees come together for the Jazz Jam event at 7 p.m. every Tuesday.

On one recent Tuesday night, attendees talked among themselves before the event started, almost as if they had built their own community within the establishment.

Truth Vinyl has pulled in regular and first-time attendees. One attendee, Randy Westerman, said it was his first time attending a Jazz Jam. He looked forward to hearing ‘60s or ‘70s artists that night. Westerman said he attended that night because jazz music is hard to find in North Central Texas.

“Well, it’s hard to find here in North Central Texas,” Westerman said. “So, when you do find it, you go listen to it.”

Something new to experience

Another attendee, Chris Cunningham, is a regular at Truth Vinyl. Cunningham said he keeps coming back because Truth Vinyl has something going on each night.

Truth Vinyl allows musicians to volunteer for the Jazz Jam, giving them the opportunity to show off their talent by playing on the spot. Gabriel Parker, 32, was one of the many musicians that performed Tuesday night.

Parker was born in Duncanville and is now a music business major at the University of Texas at Arlington. He also serves as the new social media manager for Truth Vinyl. He is also a trumpet player who has been playing professionally for eight years.

Parker said he plays about three or four gigs every week with some of them being solo gigs in restaurants, other local spots, and even outside the country. He prepares for small gigs by understanding his setlist because it is either himself or one other person, so there is no power in numbers to rely on.

Pressure to perform

Parker said bigger shows are equally nerve-wracking. He recently had a televised concert at the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas that won five Emmys and one Emmy before he got called to play this year.

“When you play those big gigs, just about everybody in the band is Grammy nominated, Oscar nominated, they work with this person, they work with that person,” Parker said. “And so, there is this pressure that you must, now that I’m around these cats, I got to play at this level instead of being relaxed at this level.”

Parker said if anyone wants to get into music, one must practice their craft at home. Parker said the show and gig are not practice places because the more someone gigs, and the more they play shows, the more they must practice. Parker said one has to also pay their dues in music.

“Sometimes you got to do some things for the low, low or you got to do some things for free because when you’re starting you have no reputation,” Parker said.

Parker said once a reputation of consistency and a good attitude is established, anyone can become the musician that they want to be.